Golf: Clark sails through field at Loch Lomond

The South African has continued an eventful year by sharing the lead after three rounds at Loch Lomond, but some big names are lurking. By Paul Forsyth

THE South African, Tim Clark, has only once been to St Andrews, and that was as a visitor. With an injured wrist, and a liking for Ma Bells, the pub up the road, he decided against even setting foot on the historic links. “I was pretty respectful of the course,” he said. “I went straight home.”

At this week’s Open Championship, he will feel as though he belongs. Clark shot a 65 in yesterday’s third round of the Barclays Scottish Open, and while Loch Lomond is a different animal from the Old Course, he has done enough this week to go there with optimism. “I feel like every part of my game is there, so regardless of the course, I should be able to keep up,” he said.

After a host of players had taken advantage of benign conditions in the west of Scotland, Clark found himself sharing the lead